Content warning: discussion of mental health
As the winter months descend on Edinburgh, many students find themselves struggling with the gloom of short days and long nights. Social media feeds are flooded with sunrise clocks, hailed as the key to beating seasonal depression. They create a natural sunrise, gradually brightening your room to wake you gently and promising increased energy, better mood, and improved sleep.
But are they really worth it? Sunrise clocks can set you back anywhere from £30 to over £150, which isn’t exactly student-budget friendly. While light therapy is proven to help with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), not every sunrise clock delivers the same results. The brightness, timing, and duration of the sunrise all influence how effective it actually is, and spending more doesn’t always guarantee a better start to the day.
For those considering the investment, a few brands consistently come out on top. Costing £50, the Lumie Sunrise Alarm, the most popular models among students, offers customisable sunrise lengths, a sunset mode to help you wind down, and a range of natural sounds.
The Philips SmartSleep Clock takes things a step further with app control, up to 20 brightness settings, and an FM radio. However this model costs £100, putting it beyond a typical student budget, though its durability and advanced features make it one of the most effective options available.
If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, the Beurer WL50 and Dekala Arkenstone both offer adjustable brightness and natural sounds for under £50. Reviews suggest that while they’re not as bright or durable as higher-end models, they still make early starts more bearable.
Ultimately, sunrise clocks aren’t a magic cure for winter fatigue, but they can make a noticeable difference for some. If you struggle with dark mornings or find your mood dipping during the semester, they might be worth the investment. For others, the effect may be subtle– more of a small comfort than a life-changing fix. Either way, as Edinburgh slips further into the winter months, anything that helps you face a 9am lecture with slightly less dread might be worth the investment.
Photo by seyfettin dincturk on Unsplash